Resilient wheel



Oct. 28, 1924. 1,513,118

F. J. MGNULTY RESILIENT WHEEL F'led May 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l v ATTORNEYS ,2 l WITNESSES Wg? Patented 0st. 2S, i924.

ill .lplqlrll Filial Fillo FRANK JOSEPH MCNULTY, OF CLARKDALE, ARIZONA.

RESILENT 'l/VHEEL.

Application iled May 25, 1923.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK J. iVlcNULTY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Glarlidale, in the county of Yavapai and f closed in Letters Patent of the YUnited States #1,277,330, granted' to me 1918.

An object of the present invention is to improve the construction of resilient wheels of the type described by providing therein a novel construction and arrangement of parts constituting a resilient structure for supporting' a thread on the rim of the wheel of conventional construction so that the tread august 27th,

' is permitted to move bodily in the general plane of the wheel and to ,have cushioned movement within fixed limits along radial lines toward and away from the axis of rotation of the wheel, whereby the wear onv the tread will be relatively slight.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a resilient wheel of the character described a resilient tread supporting structure comprising but relatively few parts and having means for excluding dust and moisture from the contiguous surfaces of the relatively moving parts thereof and for lubricating such contiguous surfaces so thatV the wear thereon will be relatively slight and the resilient structure will be readily responsive to varying stresses transmitted `thereto through the tread to give the rdesired resiliency and to absorb shocks which would otherwise be occasioned by such stresses.

@ther objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the portion of a resilient wheel in which the present invention is embodied,

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the structure exhibited in Figure l at right` Serial No. 641,480.

angles to the axis of rotation of the wheel, the section being taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofy Figure 3,

Figure 3 is a section along the line of Figure 2,

Figure a is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing a slide bloclr and supporting and cushioningmeans therefor, all such parts being included in the structure shown in the preceding views,

Figure 5 is a transverse section through one of the cushion blocks comprised in the embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary ver-A tical sectional view, showing a portion of the structure exhibited in Figure A practical embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the drawings and includes an inner rim l having on its inner periphery an integral, annular rib 2 adapted to .tit upon the rim of a wheel of conven tional construction, not shown, between the usual rim flanges, also not shown, the rib 2 being formed to provide annularv grooves 3 in itslateral faces adapted for interlocking engagement with the usual beads or inwardly turned'outer edge portions of the aforesaid rim flanges. l

A pair of integral, annular flanges 4: eX- tend radially outward from the opposite ends of the rim l. A plurality of `equi-distantly spaced apart guides 5 of substantially inverted V-shape are provided on the outer periphery of the rim l, the sides of each of these guides being integral at their bases with the rim l and integral at their opposite ends with the respective flanges 4l.

A thin bumper or stop 6 integral with the rim l is provided midway between the adjacent ends of each two adjacent guides 5, the respective bumpers or stops 6 `lying in planes extending radially from the axis of rotation of the rim and also transversely of the rim, the bumpers or stops 6 terminating with their outer ends in a circle concentric with the rim l and substantially coincident with the circle in which the apices of the guides 5 terminate. The bumpers or stops 6 are integral at their lateral ends with the flanges l.

Fach of the guides 5 is slightly flattened at its apex as indicated at 7 and the sides of the guides are inclined oppositely from the `flat portions 7 to their points of juncture with the rim 1. A block 8 which may be made of wood7 fibre or other relatively incompressible material is disposed on the c outer face of each of the inclined sides of each guide in sliding engagement therewith and extends radially beyond the fiat portion 7 of the guide, having the outer face thereof curved arcuately to conform to the contour of the inner periphery of an intermediate rim 9 which is supported upon the slide blocks 8 in spaced relation to the flat portions of the respective guides. The blocks 8 are partially received between the fianges and thus are held against lateral movement, A resilient cushioning block 1() is provided between each bumper or stop 6 andthe adjacent end of one of the blocks S. .Each cushioning block 10'is made of a material possessing inherentI resiliency such as rubber and is formed with an expansion chamber 1l therein provided with open air vents 12 of vrelatively slight area. Each of the cushioning blocks y10 is provided with a relatively wide annular groove 13 in its outer periphery7 which groove' is concave in cross sectional contour. A relatively great contrae tion and expansion of each of the cushioning blocks in the direction of its length therefore is possible. Each cushioning lock continuously urges the block 8 with which it is in contact outwardly along the block supporting side of one of the guides 5 and yieldingly resists movement of the block inwardly along the side of the guide, at the same time absorbing shocks and jars which otherwise would be transmitted to the inner rim 1 and thence to the axle of the wheel and the parts supported on the latter. Each block 8 carries on its lateral and inner faces slightly extending pieces of a suitable lubricant, such as graphite7 which pieces are inset in the faces of the block in position to contact wita the relatively moving portions of the guides 5 and flanges 4V. The sliding of the vblocks 8 relatively to the guides 5 and the inner walls of the flanges 4 therefore .f will occasion very little friction and wear on such parts.

The intermediate rim 9 is provided at one end with an inwardly extending radial Hangs 15 engaging with the blocks 8 at one side and thus holding the intermediate rim 9 against movement laterally in one direction relatively to the blocks 8. The intermediate rim 9 is held against lateral movement in the opposite direction ythrough the agency of a retaining ring 16 which ispartially disposed in flatwise contiguous relation to an outwardly extending flange 17 at the second end of the rim 9 and which extends inwardly beyond the inner wall of the rim 9 into engagement with the blocks 8 at the sides of the latter opposite to the flange 15= The retaining ring 16 is secured to the outwardly ,extending flange 17 by screws or cap bolts 18 which also have an additional function which will be hereinafter described.

With the arrangement described the rim 9 and the parts carried thereby which will be presently described are permitted to move bodily in the general plane of the rim 1 ton ward and away from the axis of rotation of the wheel, inward movement of the rim 9 at any point causing inward movement of the slide blocks 8 against the action of the resilient cushioning blocks 10, while the outward movement of the rim 9 which occurs at the opposite side of the wheel simultaneously with the movement of the rim 9 inwardly at any point will result Iin `the blocks 8 at the side of the wheel at which the outward. movement occurs being` moved outwardly until the cushioning blocks 10 forcing the slide blocks S outward are fully expanded.

As stated5 the rim 9 is lprovided at one end with an outwardly extending` flange .17. The latter is provided at its outer edge with a laterally extending ring extension 19 lin alignment with an oppositely directed voutwardly extending annular portion of a ring extension 2() at the outer end of an outwardly extending annular flange 21 at the opposite end of the rim 9. An outer rim 22 carrying on its out-er periphery a tread V23 is mounted adjacent to its opposite ends upon the ring extensions 20 and 19 ,and is thus maintained in concentric parallel relation to the intermediate rim 9. rlfhe tread 23 which may be made of rubber, or a suitable fabric is held against displacement from the rim 22 through the agency of flanges 24 at the ends of the rim v22 in interlocking engagement with the beads at the ends of' the tread.

The outer rim 22 is held againstdisplacement from the ring extensions 19 and 2O by anintegral flange 25 on the ring extension 19 acting coinjointly with al retaining ring 26 secured by a cap bolt 35 to theV annular flange 21, the ring 26 having outwardly extending radial lu(T ortions 26a extending n ci t through notches 2On in the outer edge of the ring extension 2O into position zto engage with one of the flanges v21, the vother rim flange being engaged by the flange 2K mul.

It is desirable that means be provided for Y excluding dust7 moisture and other 'foreign matter from the blocks 8 and cushion blocks 10. It of course is essential that such vdustl excluding means shall not. prevent bodily7 movement of' the rim 9 and` parte carried thereby relatively to the :rim l. To this end, I provide a pair of annular sealing rings 27 which are made of Yrubber orlilze flexible material. each of the rings 27 is slightly greaterfthan that of the ring extensions 1,9 and -20 while thevinner 4diameter `of each of the rings 27 The outer diameter Y of preferably is slightly less than that of each of a pair of oppositely extending aligned integral ribs 28 on the flanges 4 adjacent to but spaced from the outer edges of the latter. One of the rings 27 is stretched slightly and mounted upon one of the annular ribs 28 so that the outer peripheral wall of such sealing ring is in abutting relation to the inner wall of the ring extension 19. The inner edge portion of the scaling ring 27 just mentioned is clamped by a retaining ring 29 and screws or cap kbolts 30 against the outer edge portion of one of the flanges 4 while the outer edge port-ion of the sealing ring 27 is held against the ring 16 by an outer clamping ring 31 which is held in place by the screws 18. The second sea-ling ring 27 is mounted upon the second annular rib 28 and is clamped adjacent to its inner edge against the outer edge portion of the second flange d by a clamping ring 32 and screws or cap bolts 33. The second sealing ring 27 is clamped adjacent to its outer edge against the flange 21 by the retaining ring 26 and screws or cap` bolts 35.

lVith the arrangement described, the seal ing rings 27 will have substantially spiral gathered portions intermediate their inner and outer edges, as indicated at 36 and a relatively ygreat movement of the rim 9 in respect to the rim 1 therefor will be permitted without subjecting the sealing rings 27 to strain.

rlhe guides 5 may have the walls thereof reinforced by radially extending reinforcing members 37 which are integral with both the sides of the guides and with the rim 1.

The rim 1 preferably includes a plurality of removable plate sect-ions 34, there being a plate section underlying each two adjacent cushion blocks 10 and each plate section normally being held in position to complement the remainder of the rim by a. screw 34a which extends through an opening in the plate section into threaded engagement with a socket in the overlying stop 6. Each plate section 34 normally closes an opening of sufficient area to permit of the overlying cushion blocks 1() being removed therethrough when the plate section has been removed without there being any necessity of disassembling the parts of the device. which are disposed outwardly of the rim 1.

lllroni the foregoing description of the various parts of' the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. ylhe resilient tread supporting structure described will possess the resiliency required to adapt it for use in wheels for supporting vehicles of various kinds under different service conditions. All parts of the device carried upon the rim 1 and the parts integral with the latter can be displaced for the purpose of replacement or repair. The slide blccls 8 will slide easily o n the guides 5 and since dust and the like are excludedv .ing rim 22 may be supported intermediate its ends on spaced apart radial fins 38 provided on the outer periphery of the rim 9 to extend across? the latter, the fins 3S terminating at their outer ends flush with the outer faces of the ring extensions 19 and 20.

Obviously, my invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that illustrated in the accompanying drawings and l therefore consider as my own all modifications and adaptations of the formv of the device illustrated herein which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

i claim 1. ln a resilient wheel, an inner rim adapted to be mounted on the rim of a conventional wheel, a second rim resiliently spaced and held in concentric encirclinorelation 'toV the inner rim, flexible sealin rings adapted to seal the space between said rims at the ends of the latter, each of said sealing rings having substantially spiral' gathered portions intermediate the inner and outer edges thereof, and annular retaining members for securing the edge portions of each sealing ring to the respective rims.

2. In a resilient wheel, an inner rim having` a plurality of spaced apart outwardly extending substantially inverted V-shaped radial guides on its outer periphery and having an outwardly extending radial stop on its outer periphery midway between each two adjacent guides, a second rim adapted to be disposed in encircling concentric relation to said inner rim in spaced relation to the apices of said guides, a pair of slide blocks on each guide, the respective slide blocks of each pair being in sliding engagement with the outer faces of the sides of the guide, said bloclrs extendinei radially outu'ard beyond the apices of the guides and having their outer faces curved to conform to the curvature of the inner periphery of the second rim, and resilient cushion blocks disposed between the remote ends ofthe blocks of eac-h pair and the adjacent stops for urging the blocks of each pair toward each other and outward into engagement with the inner periphery of the second rim.

3, In a resilient wheel, an inner rim having a plurality' of outwardly extending spaced apart substantially inverted V- shaped guides on the outer periphery there-V of and having a pair of outwardly extending marginal flanges flanking said guides, slide blocks disposed in sliding engagement with the sides of the guides and with the inner faces of said flanges, said slide blocks extending radially outward beyond the apices of said guides and having the outer faces thereof conveXly curved, a second rim encircling said inner rim, resilient cushioning means urging ksaid slide blocks outward on the guides into engagement with the inner periphery of said second rim, said cushioning means comprising a plurality of rubber blocks, each having one end reacting against the inner end of one of said slide blocks and each having an interior expansion space therein provided with an air vent. each of said cushion blocks having an annular groove convexly curved in cross sectional contour in its outer wall intermediate its ends. Y

4. In ar resilient wheel, an inner rim having a plurality of spaced apart outwardly extending substantially inverted V-shaped radial guides on its outer periphery and having a normally closed opening located midway between each two adjacent guides, a second rim adapted to be disposed in encircling spaced relation to said inner rim, a pair of slide blocks on each guide, and resilient cushion blocks disposed between adjacent pairs of slide blocks and urging the slide blocks outwardly on the guides into engagement with the inner periphery of theV second rim, said cushion blocks being adapted to be moved from the inner rim inwardly through the openings through the walls thereof when the closures of said openings have been removed.

5. ln a resilient wheel, an inner rim including a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly removable plate sections, thus providing openings through the peripheral walls of the inner rim when the plate sections thereof have been removed, and having outwardly extending integral radial stops on its outer periphery, each of said stops extending transversely across one of said removable plate sections and being separate therefrom, devices for securing the respective plate sections to the corresponding stops7 said inner rim also having on the outer periphery thereof a substantially inverted V-shaped guide located between each two adjacent stops', slide blocks disposed on the guides for supporting a second rim in spaced relation to the first rim, and a pair of resilient cushion blocks vre'- spectively disposed on opposite sides of each stop and between the latter and the adjacent slide blocks for urging the latter outwardly on said guides, each pair of cushion blocks being removable from the inner rim through one ofthe openings provided through the walls of said rim when one of said removable sections of the rim has been removed.

FRANK OSEPH MONULTY. 

